...MGF1106 “John Nash Biography” “I would not dare to say that there is a direct relation between mathematics and madness, but there is no doubt that great mathematicians suffer from maniacal characteristics, delirium and symptoms of schizophrenia”. – John F. Nash Jr. John Nash Jr. was born on June 13, 1928 in Bluefield, West Virginia. Mr. Nash was the older of the two children that his father, John Nash Sr. and mother Martha Martin had. John and his sister grew up in the Great Depression yet they were fortunate that their father was able to keep his job as an electrical engineer with Appalachian Power Company and they never suffered through that time. They actually lived in a beautiful house not very far from a country club, so the family never suffered in any way,...
Words: 813 - Pages: 4
...Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky “The Copernicus of Geometry” Part I – An Intro to the Life & Time of Nikolai Lobachevsky Nikolai Lobachevsky was born and lived in Russia from 1792 until 1856. During this historic time in Russia, one era of rulers ended and another began. In 1796, 7 decades of women rulers came to an end. Catherine the Great died in 1796 after thirty-four years as Empress of Russia. The throne then falls to her son Paul I, whose reign is cut short when he is murdered in his bed in 1801. After Paul’s demise, his son, Alexander I ascends the throne.[4] Alexander I was going to have his work cut out for him. Due to the Russians lack of trust in Western ideas at the end of the 18th century, advances in science and math in Russia where practically non-existent. In fact, the “modern” Saint Petersburg Academy was nearly abandoned. At this low point, the school had only 14 full-time staff members. Upon becoming Tsar, Alexander was determined to reform the suffering education system. He knew that advances in the areas of math & science would help to improve the strength of the military as well as make an impact on the economy of his nation. Just in the first three years after inheriting the throne, Alexander reopened the Dorpat University and opened 3 new universities, including Vilna in 1802, Kazan in 1804, and Karkov in 1804. With the opening of these new institutions, he still faced one major challenge: Who was going to teach the students all this math...
Words: 2613 - Pages: 11
...MGMT 171-004 Mathematical Reference Project A Beautiful Mind A Beautiful Mind is a book written by Sylvia Nasar and is A Touchstone Book published by Simon and Schuster. A Beautiful Mind won the 1998 National Book Critics Award for Biography, a contract for a movie deal, and a nomination for The Pulitzer Prize for Biography. This book is based on a man by the name of John Nash who is a brilliant mathematician and also a paranoid schizophrenic. Even though Nash struggled with paranoid schizophrenia he was still able to revolutionize a concept called game theory. This work that he did with game theory greatly improved what was already established as well as created the Nash equilibrium. Game theory is the mathematical study of strategies used to win games. It began with games like tic-tac-toe and chess since they are easy to analyze because they are known as games of complete information. Complete information is when your opponent’s positions are in clear site. Game theory then went on to analyze card games where player’s cards aren’t seen, which is known as incomplete information. In card games there are elements such as bluffing that can become a variable in the analysis. Mathematicians continued to analyze more critical games such as economics, biology, philosophy, and even which girl to go after. This is around the time that John Nash developed a principle for mutual consistency of player’s strategies which is known as the Nash equilibrium. The Nash equilibrium...
Words: 482 - Pages: 2
...As a mathematician wouldn’t it be your dream to come up with or invent a theory or have a doctorate in mathematics by twenty-two years? Georg Ferdinand Ludwig Phillip Cantor of Germany did just that. He invented the Set Theory that changed the course of mathematics forever. He was born in Russia and migrated to Germany where he lived until his death in 1918. This paper gives a brief biography on Georg Cantor, the mathematical idea he is well known for and suggested activities I can use in my classroom. Georg F.L.P. Cantor was born March 3, 1845, in the western merchant colony of St. Petersburg in Russia. He was the oldest of six children, born to Georg Waldemar Cantor, a successful Dutch merchant and Russian native Maria Anna Bohm. Cantor was brought up a protestant and was an extraordinary violinist. He was tutored privately at home in his early years. He then attended primary school in St. Petersburg until he was eleven years, which also marked the time when the family migrated to Germany due to his father’s illness. In Germany, Cantor attended the Gymnesium (a senior secondary school), in Wiesbaden, before moving to Frankfurt. There, he studied at the Realschule in Darmstadt. In 1860, he graduated with an exceptional report especially in the area of mathematics. His father wanted him to be “ a shining star in the engineering firmament,” so he attended the Hӧhere Gewerbeschule in Darmstadt from 1860, and the Polytechnic of Zurich in 1862. However, in 1862 Cantor sought his...
Words: 1421 - Pages: 6
...abstraction, logic, and complex trigonometric functions. Trigonometric functions are the functions of angles. They relate the angles of a triangle to the lengths of its sides. These functions are important in the study of triangles and modeling periodic phenomena, among many other applications. Most people are familiar with the trigonometric functions of sine, cosine, and tangent. The functions of sine cosine and tangent are used in a variety of ways from finding refraction angles of waves to finding the angles or sides in a triangle. Two main mathematicians that have helped improve the knowledge of trigonometric functions are Aristarchus of Samos and Hipparchus. Both of these men are from the B.C. era but both made advancements with trigonometric functions using what they had. Each of the mathematicians has impacted the world of math greatly and also has influenced society today. Aristarchus of Samos was one of the mathematicians who contributed to trigonometric functions and was born in 310 BC in Samos Greece. As an astronomer Aristarchus studied the earth and material universe beyond earth’s atmosphere. Like his predecessors Aristarchus of Samos believed in the idea of a Hellenistic world system or that the Sun was the center of the universe. In his studies he found that the “…earth rotates daily on its own axis, and revolves yearly around the sun (Almanac of Famous People, 2011, p. 1)…” Like many astronomers Aristarchus of Samos used trigonometric functions to come up...
Words: 808 - Pages: 4
...Latoya Tanilus Mrs. Henderson American History/ Period 4 21 February 2017 Mary Jackson "Coming here from the South will be a culture shock. It is important for us to reach out and help them adjust." Mary Jackson. Mary had a love for science and a passion to help people that were surrounding her. Mary hometown was in Hampton, Virginia where there weren't many opportunities for black and especially for black women. "In the 1970a Mary help young children's that were in the science club and the "Hampton's King Street Community center to build their own tunnel vision and use it to do experiments." (Shetterly) Mary Jackson impacted the twentieth century in many positive ways. Mary set a path for women to go into the engineering field, and made...
Words: 607 - Pages: 3
...study of the discoveries of mathematics methods and notations from the past. The study of mathematics began in the 6th century BC with the Pythagoreans who coined the ancient Greek term mathematics with the meaning subject of instruction. Before the spread of knowledge, mathematics was written expressions of the development of Babylonian, Egyptian, and Pythagorean Theorem, which demonstrate the basics of arithmetic and geometry. Arithmetic is one of the oldest forms of mathematics used by Antoine-Augustin Cournot and Joseph Louis Francois Bertrand for tasks of simple day-to-day counting to science and business activities. Arithmetic involves the study of quantity as it relates to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Mathematicians refer to the more advanced term of number theory. Antoine-Augustin Cournot and Joseph Louis Francois Bertrand’s influence on mathematics lay the foundation of the economic effect of the application method on economic theory and analysis of how it will affect others. Each allows individuals to form a meaningful understanding of the complex expressions in various languages. Cournot and Bertrand have used the importance of mathematics to optimize the maximum values of economic functions. The development of Hindu and Arabic numerals devise place value concept as it relates to business operations. In recent years, new research trends have developed that indicate the meaningful functions of other branches of mathematics that use modern...
Words: 1942 - Pages: 8
...Karl Gauss: Biography Karl Gauss lived from 1777 to 1855. He was a German mathematician, physician, and astronomer. He was born in Braunschweig, Germany, on April 30th, 1777. His family was poor and uneducated. His father was a gardener and a merchant's assistant. At a young age, Gauss taught himself how to read and count, and it is said that he spotted a mistake in his father's calculations when he was only three. Throughout the rest of his early schooling, he stood out remarkably from the rest of the students, and his teachers persuaded his father to train him for a profession rather than learn trade. His skills were noticed while he was in high school, and at age 14 he was sent to the Duke of Brunswick to demonstrate. The Duke was so impressed by this boy, that he offered him a grant that lasted from then until the Duke's death in 1806. Karl began to study at the Collegium Carolinum in 1792. He went on to the University of Gottingen, and by 1799 was awarded his doctorate from the University. However, by that time most of his significant mathematical discoveries had been made, and he took up his interest in astronomy in 1801. By about 1807, Gauss began to gain recognition from countries all over the world. He was invited to work in Leningrad, was made a member of the Royal Society in London, and was invited membership to the Russian and French Academies of Sciences. However, he remained in his hometown in Germany until his death in 1855. Acomplishments During...
Words: 343 - Pages: 2
...our everyday lives. Some say that our first astronomer was a great astronomer. Other say, “Ptolemy was the only great astronomer of Roman Alexandria.” (Brown, 2016) It’s all a matter of opinion, but what we cannot deny was Ptolemy was a great astronomer of his time and today. We do not know much about Ptolemy’s personal life. What we do know about him came from his work. He was born around 85ce in Egypt to a Greek family even though he bore a roman name. To say Ptolemy was diverse is an understatement. He was also diverse in his studies being he was a mathematician, geographer, and astrologer. We know he was a Roman citizen, due to his name, which was most likely given to an ancestor and carried down. We know his family must have been Greek because he wrote in Greek even though he lived in Egypt. Ptolemy was a great mathematician, astronomer and known for his geographical discoveries. As a mathematician, his length...
Words: 3691 - Pages: 15
...P3-707 – Marie Sophie Germain Sophie Germain, a Parisian woman mathematician of the early nineteenth century, is famed for her theory of elasticity and more so for her contributions to the theory of numbers. Sophie grew up during an era where women did not enjoy the same privileges as women living in today’s day and age do. Women were not allowed to participate in traditionally men’s fields like mathematics and science. Sophie Germain once wrote: “This leads me to confess…fearing the ridicule attached to a female scientist, I took the name of Mr. Le Blanc in communicating to you.” Sophie Germain’s persistence and dedication to the field of mathematics helped to further the liberation of women mathematicians for generations to come. On April...
Words: 1421 - Pages: 6
...Renaissance The first important painter of the Renaissance was Giotto di Bondone In 1334, Giotto was appointed chief architect in Florence, where he remained until his death in 133Therefore, as the city-states of Italy began to develop great wealth during the early fifteenth century, architects and sculptors rose to fame and power. In 1401, Florence held a competition to choose the artist to design and sculpt a pair of bronze doors for the Baptistry, a church honoring St. Paul the Baptist. The Italian Renaissance is divided into three major phases: Early, High, and Late Renaissance. The Early Renaissance was lead by sculptor Donatello, architect Filippo Brunelleschi, and painter Masaccio. They began the movement on the foundations that development and progress was integral to the evolution and survival of the arts. They found their inspiration form antiquity, creating realistic figures that portrayed personality and behavior. They focused on the laws of proportion for architecture, the human body, and space. The term Early Renaissance encompasses most 15th century art. The High Renaissance sought to create a generalized style of art that focused on drama, physical presence, and balance. The major artists of this period were Leonardo Da Vinci, Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian. The period lasted only a short time from 1495 to 1520. The Late Renaissance was put into motion by the sack of Rome in 1527, forcing artists to relocate to other artistic centers in Italy...
Words: 827 - Pages: 4
...The Da Vinci Code— True or False? Leonardo Da Vinci— a writer, mathematician, inventor, and artist— inspired many of us to do great things. Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code, novel. Robert Langdon and Agent Sophie Neveu are on a quest to discover the secrets of The Holy Grail, along with member of the Opus Dei. During their expedition, the two of them find out the truth about this long awaited mystery. Brown subjectively presents Leonardo Da Vinci’s biography and life’s work and influences readers to believe false conclusions. Leonardo Da Vinci had an interesting life growing up, and people understood things about him that might not even be true. Dan Brown explains in The Da Vinci Code that Leonardo was the Grand Master of a secret society called the Priory of Sion (Brown 113). There is no proof that Da Vinci was the Grand Master, let alone even part of this society. “Every faith in the world is based on fabrication,” (Dan Brown). The whole aspect of Leonardo Da Vinci’s life is explained by fabrication in the novel, not trusted facts. Leonardo’s interesting biography led him to accomplish many well-known works of art....
Words: 472 - Pages: 2
...studied Some of the common questions of historiography are: 1. Reliability of the sources used, in terms of authorship, credibility of the author, and the authenticity or corruption of the text. (See also source criticism). 2. Historiographical tradition or framework. Every historian uses one (or more) historiographical traditions, for example Marxist, Annales School, "total history", or political history. The historiography of early Islam refers to the study of the early origins of Islam based on a critical analysis, evaluation, and examination of authentic primary source materials and the organization of these sources into a narrative timeline. History of Muslim historians Science of biography, science of hadith, and Isnad Further information: Science of hadith, Prophetic biography, and Biographical evaluation Muslim historical traditions first began developing from the earlier 7th century with the reconstruction of Muhammad's life following his death. Because narratives regarding Muhammad and his companions...
Words: 985 - Pages: 4
...Benjamin Banneker  February 25, 2014 By: Carmella Cross Benjamin Banneker born November 9,1731 he was born in Ellicott’s Mills, Md.. He was the son of ex-slave named Robert, whose wife Mary Banneker, was the daughter of an Englishwoman and an African ex-slave. He was taught to read by his white grandmother named Molly and for a short time he also attended a small Quaker school. He was best know as Colonial African-American scientist and surveyor of was Washington, D.C.. Benjamin Banneker has been called the first African American intellectual. Benjamin was a free-born descendant of slaves who had became famous 18th-century astronomer, mathematician and surveyor. He was also considered by many to be the first African-American scientist. He taught himself astronomy and accurately forecast-ed lunar and solar eclipses. Benjamin was raised on a tobacco farm in rural Maryland, where he attend school but was largely self-taught in the sciences. Although Benjamin worked most of his life as a farmer, his analytical and problem solving skills became legendary. Hie=s achievements were indeed impressive at the age of 24 he studied clockworks and constructed his own clock from wood. He taught himself astronomy and published a popular almanac, Benjamin Banneker’s Almanac from 1792 to 1797. These almanacs included his own astronomical calculations as well as opinion pieces, literature and medical and tidal information among other things. In 1791, Benjamin was technical...
Words: 488 - Pages: 2
...HANDOUT 13 Internet Resources Muslim Contributions to Civilization: Past and Present I. Islam and Science A. (Article) Science and Civilization in Islam (Seyyed Hossein Nasr) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/med/nasr.html B. Overview of Islamic Culture and the Medical Arts (National Library of Medicine Exhibit) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/islamic_medical/islamic_00.html C. Resource page of Islam SET (Science, Environment and Technology) ( www.islamset.com) http://www.islamset.com/introd.html i. History of Islamic Science http://www.islamset.com/heritage/history.html ii. History of Muslim Pharmacology http://www.islamset.com/heritage/pharmacy/index.html D. History of Islamic Biomedicine (links to many articles on this topic, including chronology of Muslim civilization) http://www.mic.ki.se/Arab.html E. Numbers http://www.islamic-paths.org/Home/English/History/Literature/Arabic_Numerals.htm II. Environment A. Islam and the Environment, theory and practice (Dr. Mawil Izzi Dien) http://www.lampeter.ac.uk/trs/staffgallery/mawil_paper.html B. (Article) Islam and Ecology http://www.crosscurrents.org/islamecology.htm III. History and Civilization A. History of Islamic Civilization http://www.islamset.com/islam/civil/index.html - and http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/islam/islamsbook.html Pg. 1 HANDOUT 13 B. Influence of Islamic Culture on Western Civilization http://www.netiran.com/Htdocs/Clippings/Social/950300XXSO02...
Words: 1486 - Pages: 6
